The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Bionic on March 10, 2013, 10:41:36 am
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We have decided to go on holiday later in the year (sept/oct) providing we can work out someone to look after the animals. The problem is that we can't decide where to go.
I want somewhere hot and sunny but there is just too much choice. Jamaica, Mexico, Morocco, Dominican Republic, Goa, Gambia, Kenya...... the list goes on.
Anyone got a good suggestion of somewhere which fits the bill but won't entirely break the bank balance?
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I loved Gambia but that's going back 22 years so I don't know how it is now - lots to see and learn, great for travelling about and the food was amazing. Certainly very hot and we spent hours in the sea jumping the atlantic rollers (I went with a friend). Engaged in Mexico 12 yrs back, we stayed near cancun but not in it so we were able to travel around away from tourist spots, again very hot. Been to Jamaica and Barbados - preferred Barbados to be honest, some areas of Jamaica not safe (as with everywhere I know but seemed more so there). Not sure if a bit too rainy in Caribbean Sept/Oct? ooh how exciting!! you'll have a great time wherever you choose :)
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suppose it depends on what you want to do when you get there too?
Dubai is good for beaches, shopping, culture etc and should be cooling down by sept/oct :sunshine: and you can get some good deals for flights/hotels if you look around
or if you want to try something a little different maybe Kerala in India? Known as the Venice of India, lovely waterways, elephants walking down the road etc etc
So jealous, can't see me getting anywhere this year :(
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The Brecon Beacons , what more could you want ?
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The Brecon Beacons , what more could you want ?
sunshine and cocktails ? ;) :sunshine:
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The Brecon Beacons , what more could you want ?
Well I guess it would save me money on a smallholding sitter. Can't see me there in a bikini at that time of year though. Or any time of year come to think of it :)
Plums, I went to Gambia 20 odd years ago, perhaps I saw you there. Yes, I too wondered that it might have changed too much and not for the better. I have been to Mexico a couple of times as part of a cruise and liked what I saw. Also did half a day in Jamaica on a cruise and even in only half a day I must admit I didn't feel safe. Barbados is a possibility though. I could change to Nov if it works better for weather anywhere. IFRH, I have done a 10 hour stopover in Dubai. Whilst I enjoyed it I am not sure I would want a 2 week holiday there. OH did buy me a very nice gold bracelet there though ;D
We did 2 weeks in Kerala about 3 years ago. Absolutely loved it but would prefer somewhere I haven't been before.
Thanks for all the suggestions, keep them coming
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Have you been to Madeira? Really beautiful island with lots to do and the scenery and flora/fauna absolutely stunning. Weather is good all year around with July to September being the hottest months but still circa 20 degrees in December. The Christmas/New Year celebrations are second to none. In July (usually around the
6th-7th) there's an agricultural show held on the North of the island which is fabulous and really interesting to see the animals etc thatare on the island. The people of Madeira are super friendly and the food superb. I can't recommend the island highly enough and it's only 3 or 4 hours flight from the UK depending on your chosen airport.
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What about Cuba? My Grandma has been almost everywhere and she says the first place she would go back to is Cuba. Apparently its certainly worth a visit before it changes, the culture and weather should be good and I believe it is possible to enjoy on a reasonable budget. That would be my first choice :D
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Go on a Thomas Cook cruise down the Nile, it's sensational, you feel like you're on a film set, the boats are lovely, the Nile is lush and beautiful, the Egyptians are friendly without being overly so and they are tripping over Egyptian culture. Was our ultimate holiday experience, couldn't imagine anything better, really amazing.
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As the furthest I've every been was Brittany, I don't think I'm qualified to answer this one. My son went to Cuba last year though with his then girlfriend. She had wanted to go there for years but was very disappointed in it. Neither would go again. I wouldn't mind going to Ghana though.
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We have a holiday cottage here on the farm. Guests sometimes ask me where I go on holiday and the answer is, "Somewhere beautiful, where I don't have to watch the clock and where I can spend a lot of time outdoors - oh, I already live here." They go home at the end of the week. I am home.
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Could come camping here in October - but bring the ratchet straps and some big pegs for the tent though ;D
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I was thinking of where I would want to go and it struck me just how we change. at my age I just can not imagine having an inactive holiday on a cruise or pool hotel. These days I would also find it difficult following the crowd on the tourist trips. So I would have to have my own travel arrangements and schedule and spend just a night here or there.I reckon you can stroll around most cities and see the good sites within just a couple of days with 2 nights sampling their food. So a touring holiday when the temperature is between 25-30 degrees would suit me.
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We went to Mexico a few years ago. We came home after a week because our resort was hit by Hurricane Emily, the pictures we took really are something!
Before the hurricane hit it was paradise. We stayed in the Iberostar Tucán and it was fantasitc; all inclusive, beach, pool, fantastic local market that caters for both 'store' shopping, and those who want to use the language and have a haggle! According to on-line searches the cost of 5 days for 2 people at the same resort is around £850 ex flights.
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[/size]Since then we've been to Turkey, which was nice, but slightly more tricky language wise (Turkish and Russian). The resort was nice, but more club-like, there was a lot of travelling but seeing Kekova (sunken ruins) and places like Myra were worth the long trips.
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[/size]OH and I have been to Tenby in Wales a couple of times, and it really is a lovely place. We found it affordable (yep, the exotic holidays were family holidays abroad) and somewhere I'd happily go back to. Seafood, culture, walks, beaches...perfect!
[/size]North Cliff: http://www.northcliffcaravanpark.co.uk/ (http://www.northcliffcaravanpark.co.uk/)
[/size]We're off to Cornwall for our honeymoon...it may only be in the next county but we're taking the VW to a lovely quiet site at Keneggy Cove. http://www.kenneggycove.co.uk/ (http://www.kenneggycove.co.uk/)
[/size]Not sure if any of this takes your fancy, but its good to share :)
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It all depends on how many horrible diseases you want to collect, and can you carry all the water with you that you will need without buying the local stuff. :thinking:
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Shnoowie I will take a look at the Mexian hotel you went to later, thanks for the suggestion.
Doug,
We will be prepared with all of the appropriate injections and malaria tablets (if necessary) I am also used to not drinking the local water or eating food from roadside stalls (pity as they sometimes look very good). If we want to experience other parts of the world then those precautions are just part of the experience. I have been to some amazing places and have some wonderful memories.
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We will be prepared with all of the appropriate injections and malaria tablets (if necessary) I am also used to not drinking the local water or eating food from roadside stalls (pity as they sometimes look very good). If we want to experience other parts of the world then those precautions are just part of the experience. I have been to some amazing places and have some wonderful memories.
I went to Whitby once, wasn't prepared.........
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It all depends on how many horrible diseases you want to collect, and can you carry all the water with you that you will need without buying the local stuff. :thinking:
And as for Scarborough, least said soonest mended...
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I am also used to not drinking the local water or eating food from roadside stalls (pity as they sometimes look very good). If we want to experience other parts of the world then those precautions are just part of the experience. I have been to some amazing places and have some wonderful memories.
Been offered drugs in Jamaica - would have been bricking it in Manchester or Liverpool but there was just part of the holiday.
Best pastie ever was from a road side stall in Antigua, can't afford to get there now, wish I could.
Club in Bangkok, was a bit careful there but rest of trip was super as was Singapore and Bali on the same holiday / honeymoon.
Friends just back from Vietnam, inexpensive and they would go again but avoid the trip down the VietCong tunnels apparently.
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Do you want active or restful? How much luxury or roughing it did you have in mind?
If Kenya doesn't fall into a post election war again I do have a contact who would put together a totally bespoke holiday for you. (we had a week ... 2 day tent safari, day in Navasha, cycle safari, day in Niarobi, flight to and 2 days on beach in Mombasa for about £1200 each (excluding flights to kenya.) complete with own guide/ driver/ translator.
Maybe I can be of assistance with the animals?
Linda
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We seem to give family and friends active and innactive holidays in the :sunshine: for the cost of a Ryanair flight :excited: £7.99 from London to Limoges is the cheapest flight paid by my daughter - and we feed every one for £5 a head for 7 days :excited: . Just picking up on another thread there but the frequent visitors do enjoy walking and canoeing and swimming in lakes and rivers. I guess that we enjoy a long holiday with visitors from May to October.
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In terms of Africa (which I love) I prefer Uganda or Ghana to Kenya personally, but I no longer know the politics as I would have in the mid 90s when I went to them so don't take my word for it ;) I have pretty bad memories of my trips to Kenya. Always fancied going further south to Botswana and Namibia perhaps, but never made it as yet.
Far East I found way too humid, tho I quite liked Macao.
My more recent travels (05/06) were mostly to Peru tho, my favourite destination being Cusco up in the Andes, high altitude and a great area to explore, avoid Lima tho other than the fastest international to national air transit you can manage ;)
I could never do a beach or "tourist" holiday tho, always go flight only and book something local and cheap in a safeish area where I can explore myself. Can't see the point in travelling a long way to sit by a pool reading a book - could save the hassle and read on the sofa at home ;)
Other places I'd like to visit that fall into the warmer zones - Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Mauritius, Tahiti, Galapagos, Samoa, New Mexico, Arizona, Hawai'i, New Orleans.. But there are as many colder places I'd like to go and some that might be either. European destinations I'd go for cities like Venice, Florence etc so I had plenty to see. But I think trips abroad are off the agenda financially for the foreseeable ::)
If anyone fancies a nice smallholding holiday base in north Fife to explore Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee, St Andrews, Falkland Palace, the amazing organic Pillars of Hercules farm/shop/cafe and Stirling all within an hour, let me know and I'd gladly vacate for a few days or weeks as long as my ponies, hens and cats are checked and fed as required (ponies are at grass in summer, no mucking out ;) ) Can't promise sun but it's a great part of the world and cheaper to get to!
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Some fabulous suggestions from everyone.
ellied, OH would definitely be interested in Peru and the places that you would like to visit are all on my wish list too. As for Europe, I have done less travelling there than far flung places. I have been to Venice though and thought it was fantastic. Like no place else I have ever been.
Linda, A mix of active and idle ;D would be good although I have a bad ankle so nothing too strenuous these days. Some years ago I did a week on safari in Tanzania and then a week in Kenya on the coast. That was a lovely holiday. I have sent you a pm
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It suddenly dawned on me that I will be 60 next Feb so we have decided to ditch the holiday this year and have something nice in Feb.
We have now booked a Caribbean cruise leaving on 24th Jan so we will be away for OH's birthday on 3rd Feb and mine on 5th. I have been on 3 Caribbean cruises previously but not to any of the stops on this cruise, so it will all be new.
Just have to carry on with my diet now so that I can get into my posh frocks ;D
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I know it isn't quite so exotic but it won't break the bank either - but we went to Minorca a few years ago, stayed over in the far west of the island near the old town. We found it lovely and unspoilt with very good snorkelling - lots of fish to look at. Plus north of the island has lots of totally wild beaches, fed by natural rivers and even wild turtles/tortoise (not sure which they were)! Just avoid the main tourist towns!
Donna
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It suddenly dawned on me that I will be 60 next Feb so we have decided to ditch the holiday this year and have something nice in Feb.
We have now booked a Caribbean cruise leaving on 24th Jan so we will be away for OH's birthday on 3rd Feb and mine on 5th. I have been on 3 Caribbean cruises previously but not to any of the stops on this cruise, so it will all be new.
Just have to carry on with my diet now so that I can get into my posh frocks ;D
A lovely way to spend your 60th. My sister in law whose 60th was the February just gone, wanted to spend it somewhere hot and sunny. Instead, she was visiting my brother in hospital after his hip replacement. It was hot though. :roflanim: